Lock in particular for motor vehicle doors

Details Lock in particular for motor vehicle doors Lock in particular for motor vehicle doors

1998-09-30

2001-08-28

Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)

Locks

Operating mechanism

Using a powered device

C292S201000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06279361

ABSTRACT:

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lock, in particular a lock for car doors, having a rotary latch (
1
.
1
) which cooperates with a locking wedge (
1
.
5
), or the like, and can be locked by a pawl (
1
.
3
) in a locking position, the pawl being actuatable by a setting device, and the pawl bringing the rotary latch at least into one open position.
Such a lock is known from European Patent Application 0 589 158 A1, which has a rotary latch which cooperates with a closure bolt or the like and is locked in a locking position by a pawl. A manipulator (door handle) is connected by an electric line to a motorized setting drive which, upon actuation of the handle, acting with a displaceable setting member on the pawl, moves the pawl into its unlocked position when a switch arranged in the electric line is brought into active position by a corresponding switch command of a receiving device or a device connected therewith. The motorized setting drive is an electromagnet having a displaceable iron core as actuator which, however, requires a large structural space since large setting forces are necessary in order to move the pawl out of the locking position into the unlocked position. Furthermore, there is the disadvantage that a high control expense is necessary in order to position the actuator in its two desired positions. Furthermore, a setting drive which is adapted to the forces is cost-intensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a lock of improved efficiency, compact construction, and reliable operation.
According to the invention, transmission elements which transmit the movement of the setting device, in stepped-down fashion, to the pawl are arranged between the pawl (
1
.
3
) and the setting device.
They, furthermore, have the advantage that a setting device can be used which requires little construction space and is therefore of compact construction. Furthermore, the movement brought about by the setting device (for instance, rotary or linear movement) is stepped-down by the transmission elements so that a sufficiently high moment of rotation of the setting device for the actuating of the pawl is established, so that the pawl reliably locks the rotary latch in the locking position or moves it into the open position or releases the pre-stressed rotary latch.
As a further development of the invention, the transmission elements constitute a step-down transmission which is advantageously developed as a gear wheel transmission. This has the advantage that the step-down transmission operates reliably and, furthermore, precise adjustment paths are made possible. Since the rotary latch, can be brought or released by the pawl from a locking position into an open position or vice versa, the movement of the pawl in both directions of movement is carried out dependably and accurately.
As a further development of the invention, the step-down transmission has at least one gear wheel (
1
.
8
) driven by an electric motor (
1
.
7
) which forms the setting device, and at least one toothed segment (
1
.
9
) connected with the gear wheel (
1
.
8
) for actuating the pawl (
1
.
3
). In this way there is indicated a structural development for the step-down transmission which is compact in construction and operates reliably, since the components indicated can be integrated within the lock, in particular, in the door of the motor vehicle.
As a further development of the invention, in order to increase the moment of rotation between the drivable gear wheel (
1
.
8
) and the toothed segment (
1
.
9
), at least one additional toothed segment (
1
.
10
) having two gear wheels or toothed segments of different diameter arranged one above the other are provided, the gear wheel or toothed segment
1
.
10
a
having the larger diameter being associated with the gear wheel (
1
.
8
) and the gear wheel toothed segment
1
.
10
b
having the smaller diameter being associated with the toothed segment (
1
.
9
). In this way a further stepping-down of the motion (rotation) of the setting device (electric motor) is established, as a result of which the moment of rotation and thus the reliable actuation of the pawl is further increased.
In a further development of the invention, a sensor (rotary-latch switch
1
.
11
) for detecting the position of the rotary latch (
1
.
1
) is associated at least with the rotary latch (
1
.
1
). This has the advantage that the setting device, released by the device at least for the giving of setting commands, is actuated until the rotary latch reaches the open position and the setting device is disconnected when this open position is reached. The same is true of the locking position, i.e. the setting device is moved in the other direction of movement until the rotary latch is moved from the open position into the locking position. This return travel is possible also when the rotary latch is already open.
As a further development of the invention, the pawl (
1
.
3
) can be brought by the setting device, in particular by the toothed segment (
1
.
9
) which is movable by the setting device, into at least one further predeterminable position, or locked therein. This has the advantage that, for instance, the door of the motor vehicle does not open immediately upon an opening command but is brought into a disengaged position (pre-detent) and stopped there, in which position the door is then opened completely by a further opening command (two-stroke opening). It is also conceivable to skip the predeterminable position by a longer opening command so that the door is opened directly by the opening command. Conversely, this, however, can also mean that, upon the closing of the door, if the closing pressure was not sufficiently great, the door stops initially in the disengaged position and is either pressed closed by strong pressing or must first of all be again opened before the final closed position (locked position of the rotary latch) is then reached.
As a further aspect of the invention, a control device (
1
.
10
) for the lock has, for the giving of setting commands, an input device (
10
.
7
) (such as a switch for the actuation of a child-proof door catch) and/or a receiver (
10
.
8
) with which there is associated at least one portable transmitter (
10
.
9
) for the giving of setting commands. In this way, the opening or closing commands can be transmitted by remote control to the lock so that the latter operates purely electrically and a mechanical aid in closing such as a lock cylinder can be dispensed with. For the establishing of further setting possibilities for the setting device, an input device is provided, which, when it has been actuated, for instance by the door inside handle, can be actuated without this bringing about a movement of the setting device.
As a further development of the invention, a manipulator (for example, a door inside handle or door outside handle) and an actuation-detection device (for instance a switch) associated with the manipulator form a structural unit. This has the advantage that, as customary up to now, a manipulator is provided, for instance, on the outside of the door of the motor vehicle and on the inside, a switch being integrated in the manipulator and thus the two forming a single structural unit. It is also conceivable for the switch to be connected with the manipulator by transmission elements at least over a small distance.
As a further development of the invention, the switch is actuated, without actuation of the manipulator and/or without contact. This has the advantage that the actuating of the switch can be effected while bypassing the manipulator which is advantageous, in particular, in the case of an emergency. For this purpose it can be provided, for instance, that a recess or an opening is present in the door of the vehicle through which the switch can be actuated, possibly by means of a suitable tool. In order to avoid the closing of a switch, and possibly of the manipulator, the actuating of the switch takes place without contact or without actuation by for

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